How do I erase my Hard drive and reinstall XP?

Question

I am giving my laptop away and I want to erase the hard drive and give him a system without any problems.

Answer 1

here you go
http://www.lifehacker.com/software/windows/geek-to-live-how-to-format-your-hard-drive-and-install-windows-xp-from-scratch-157578.php
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Answer 2

I use a program called Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBan) to securely wipe all the data from a hard drive. DBan is a free open source program with no ad-ware or spy-ware.

When you reformat a hard drive, all you are really doing is resetting the file allocation table on that drive. The file allocation table is what maintains the directory structure on the drive. When you simply reformat, all of the data files still remain on the drive.

This will keep amateurs out of your files, but anyone who knows how to use a disk editor can recover your files.

DBAN writes random characters to every place on the hard drive. When using DBan, I use the DOD wipe with three passes. Very few people could recover any data from a hard drive wiped this way

After wiping the drive, you will need to reformat and reinstall an operating system to be able to use the PC.

Follow the link below to get DBan

Answer 3

If you have a restore cd,insert it and shut it down. Then power on and touch key pad. it will ask you if you want to formatt the hard drive. press yes or 1. Follow its instructions.

Answer 4

Boot with the XP CD and choose the partition you want it on Delete it and recreate it or just format it.

Answer 5

do a cold boot with windows cd in have your bios read the cd-rom first you need to delete the windows thats on it now, do a full format and install

Answer 6

http://www.theeldergeek.com/clean_installation_of_windows_xp.htm